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Cattleman’s Corner

Thompson Rivers University student Chris Solecki testing out a drone which columnist Roy Lewis says can play a practical role in livestock management.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Using new technology to monitor cattle

Animal Health: Stationary cameras and drones can be used in many ways


By
Technology has advanced for monitoring the health of cattle both at calving time and on pasture. Two operations I deal with during the calving season have used advanced cameras in the last several years. I have also seen demonstrations and heard a few presentations on drones for checking and monitoring cattle. It appears to be […] Read more
Gregory making sure cattle have feed, good bedding and shelter during the February cold snap.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Spring pasture fenced and ready

February got cold and then got colder

By
January turned out to be a decent month for a variety of projects. On Jan. 14 the temperature was liveable and the wind was down so we decided it would be a good day to skin an old, crippled cow for our friends Bill and Betty. We were supposed to get to her earlier so […] Read more
Improved conception rates tell the story
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Improved conception rates tell the story

Good-quality mineral mix got this herd back on track

By
The four principal trace elements essential to successful beef cow reproduction, are copper, zinc, manganese and selenium. All too often, they are either deficient in forage or bound by compounds also found in forage, which makes them biologically unavailable to cattle. I instruct beef producers to plan the best mineral-(and vitamin-) feeding program to their […] Read more
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

Feed grain supplies down, then up by fall

Market Update: Late 2019 may be a good time to think about backgrounding

By
The price of feeder cattle is influenced by two main factors — the expected fed cattle price when the feeder is finished; and the price of feed grains. Let’s have a look at the fundamentals for Canadian barley as well as a brief overview of the corn situation. As of early March, Lethbridge-area feedlots were […] Read more
Banding properly applied worked well to remove mature horns 
with minimal discomfort.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Banding worked well for dehorning

Cattle displayed some discomfort but it didn't last long

By
Cattle with horns can be anything from an irritant to a real problem for producers. They are usually more aggressive than the polled or dehorned animals because they know they have a weapon. They can hurt other cattle by head butting them to get them to move away from feed or water. They can also […] Read more
Canadian prices divorce from U.S. fundamentals
Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Canadian prices divorce from U.S. fundamentals

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Alberta feeding margins are in the red by $200 per head for feedlots selling in the spot market

By
There was unusual price behaviour in western fed and feeder markets during the first weeks of February. Earlier in January, Alberta fed cattle prices reached a high of $166 on live basis for March delivery. By mid-February, Alberta packers were only bidding $150 on a live basis for March 1-15 delivery. At the same time, […] Read more
In this swath grazing experiment, yearlings working their way 
across a paddock where Phalaris was swathed while it was growing, 
with some green regrowth as well.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Testing swath grazing in Australia

The climate is totally different, but the season is the same

By
Editor’s Note: Keep in mind seasons in Australia are reversed: spring — September to November; summer — December to February; autumn — March to May, and winter — June to August.  Most graziers, at least in Western Canada, equate swath grazing to images of cows with snow on their back line and with frozen muzzle […] Read more
The Lift is a automated device for cutting into open face of a silage pit. In this photo the Shuttle Eco robotic feed cart has arrived, at left, and stopped next to the Lift which will load it with fresh silage.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

EU beef producers ready for robotic feeders

Systems can feed precise rations 24 hours a day

By
With labour shortages increasing across the agricultural industry internationally, robotic feeding is set to play a significant part on livestock farms in the future. In Europe and other parts of the world, small and large beef units, even outdoor feedlots, are all targets for autonomous feeding systems backed up by the latest sensors, clouds and […] Read more

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